There's a Bear on My Chair

Ross Collins has produced some wonderful picture books, and this new one is an absolute gem.

Bear is sitting in Mouse’s chair, and although it’s rather small for him, he looks very comfortable. Mouse tries all sorts of ways to shift him – he pushes him, he stares at him, he wears his underwear in an effort to scare him, he tempts him with a pear …  It’s rather reminiscent of a child trying to catch an adult’s attention, as Bear, apparently oblivious, carries on with grown-up activities such as reading a newspaper, checking his mobile, grooming himself in front of the mirror, snoozing, and having a nice cup of tea (though it’s clear from the endpapers that he does actually eat the pear at some point).

There are bold images of Bear and Mouse, set against a flat background of a different colour on each spread, and extraneous detail is kept to a minimum. It’s a simple, but strong story, perfect for young children who will appreciate the funny ending and soon be joining in with the short rhyming text.